throughout the world, it is easy to forget the immense hurdles she had to climb. beginning in the upper floors of her father's grocers shop, through oxford as a scientist and later as part of the team that invented mr. whippy's ice cream, she embarked upon a politicalca by the time she entered parliament in 1959, she was part of only four percent of women in the house of commons. she had experienced many rebuffs along the way, often on the short list of candidates, only to be disqualified by prejudice against a woman and worse, a woman with children. she applied herself to her work with formidable energy and passion, and continued to reflect on her faith and politics, related to one another.

and the jury lecture, she said that christianity offers no easy solutions to political and economic issues. it teaches us that we cannot achieve a compassionate society simply by passing new laws and appointing more staff to administer them. she was very aware that there are positions which are needed -- there are proud dispositions which are needed to make market economics and democratic and institutions function well. the capacity to cooperate. these decisions and dispositions are incubated and given power by our relationships. in her words, the basic ties of the family are at the heart of our society and our the nursery of virtue.

such moral and spiritual capital is accumulated over many generations but can be easily eroded. life is a struggle to make the right choices and to achieve liberation from dependence, whether material or psychological. this genuine independence is the essential econdition of in an other-centeredbeyond ourselves. way, the word margaret thatcher uses, was interdependence. she referred to the christian doctrine that we are all members about one and another, expressed in the concept of the church on earth as the body of christ. from this, we learn our interdependence.

from this she said, the great truth is, we do not achieve happiness or salvation in isolation from each other, but as members of society. her later remark about there being no such thing as society has been misunderstood. and refers, in her mind, to some impersonal entity to which we attempted to surrender our independence. it is entirely right that in the dean's bidding there was a reference to the lifelong companionship she enjoyed with dennis. as we all know, the manner of her leaving office was traumatic, but the loss of dennis was a grievous blow, indeed. and then there was a struggle with increasing debility, which -- from which she has now been liberated.

the natural cycle leads inevitably to decay. but the dominant note in any christian funeral service, after the sorrow and memories, is hope. it is almost as perplexing to identify the real me in life as it is in death. the atoms that make up our bodies are changing all the time, through wear and tear, eating and drinking. we are atomically distinct from what we were when we were young. what unites margaret roberts of gransam with baroness thatcher? what contstutes her identity? her memories, aspirations, and actions which make up a character, were carried for a time by the atoms of her body.

we believe they are also stored up in the cloud of god's being. in faithful relationships, when two people live together, they grow around one another. one becomes a part of the other. we're given the freedom to be breelyon ever as human beings, closer relationship with the divine nature. everything which has turned to love in our lives will be shored up in the memory of god. first there is the struggle for freedom and independence, and then there is the self--giving and the acceptance of interdependence. in the gospel passage read by the prime minister, jesus says, i am the way, the truth, and the light.

and that "i am" is the voice of divine being. jesus christ does not bring information or mere advice. but he embodies the reality of divine love. god so loved the world, he was generous. from the nterven outside. he gave himself to us in the person of jesus christ and became one of us. what, in the end, makes our lives seem valuable? after the storm and stress have passed away and there is a great calm. the questions most frequently asked at such a time concern us all. how loving have i been? how faithful in personal relationships? have i discovered joy within myself?

or am i still looking for it in externals outside myself? margaret thatcher had a sense of this which she expressed in her address to the general assembly when she said, i leave you with the earnest hopes that may we all come nearer to that other country. whose ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace. t.s. elliott in the poem quoted in this service, says, "the communication of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living. in this easter season, death is revealed not as if full stop, but as the way into another dimension of life.

as elliott puts it, what we call the beginning is often the end, and to make an end is to make a beginning. the end is where we start from. rest eternal grant unto her, oh lord. and let light perpetual shine upon her. >> the address by the bishop of london. and now, one of lady thatcher's favorites "in love divine, in love excelling." >> prayers led by sarah einstein, rose hudson wilson.

♪ >> "love divine, all loves exceling" written by charles

wesley, music by john zundel. ♪ love divine all loves exceling joy of the heaven, to earth come down fix in us thy humble dwelling all thy faithful miller sizz crown! jesus thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art visit us with thy salvation enter every trembling heart breathe o breathe thy loving spirit into every troubled breast let us all in thee inherit let us find that second rest take away our bent to sinning

alpha and omega be end of faith at its beginning set our hearts at liberty come, almighty to deliver let us all thy life receive suddenly return and never nevermore thy temples leave thee we would be always blessing serve thee as thy hosts above pray and praise thee without ceasing glory in thy perfect love. finish, then, thy new creation pure and spotless let us be let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee, changed from glory into glory

till in heaven we take our place till we cast our cros before thee lost in wonder, love, and praise ♪ >> prayers led by sarah einstein, rose hudson wilson. >> born of the bottom, capped by a short time to live, and is full of misery. he cometh up and is cut down like a flower. he serves as a shadow, and never continue in one space. in the midst of life, we are in death.

of whom may we seek but suffer, it ishee, oord, for our sins art justly displeased. thou knowest, lord, the secrets of her heart. shut not thy merciful ears to our prayers but spare us, lord most holy. oh, god most mighty. oh, holy and merciful savior. thou most worthy judge eternal, suffer us not, and allow not any pain of death to fall from thee. like a father pitieth his own children, even so is the lord

merciful unto them that fear him. for he knows where oft we ar made. he remembers that we are but dust. the days of men are but as grass. he flourishes as a flower of the seed. as soon as the winds goeth over it, it is gone. and the place shall know it no more. but the merciful goodness of the lord endurest forever and ever upon them that fear thee and his righteousness upon children's children. >> omerciful god, the father of our lord, jesus christ, whom is the resurrection and the light. in whom whosoever believeth shall live so he died.

nd whomsoever live w not die eternally. who also has taught us by holy apostle paul, not be sorryas men without hope for them that sleep in him. we meekly beseachtheeo father to raise us from the debt of sin into the light of righteousness. that's when we should depart this life, we may rest in him as our hope is that our sister does. that at the general resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight and received a blessing which by well beloved son shall then pronounce, come ye blessed the children of my father. receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.

grant this, we beseech thee, o mersful -- o merciful father, through jesus christ, our mediator and redeemer, amen. >> almighty god, other of all mercies and giver of all comforts, deal graciously, we pray the, with those who mourn.hatasg every care on the, they may know the consolation of thy love. jesus christ, our lord, amen. >> o heavenly father, who in thy son jesus christ has given us a true faith and a sure hope. help us, we pray thee, to live as those who believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins sins, and

the resurrection to life everlasting, and strengthen this faith and hope in us all the days of our lives through the love of thy son, jesus christ, our savior. amen. >> now the anthem entitled "requiem, may angels lead you into paradise."

♪ may the angels lead you into paradise may the martyrs receive you in your coming and may they guide you into the holy city, jeruslem. may the chorus of angels receive you and with lazarus once poor may you have ecertainly rest ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ >> i heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, right are therefore the blessed which rise to life from the dead. they rest from their labors. now unto the king ecertainly, immortal, invisible. the only wise god. the honor and glory for ever and ever.

amen. >> "i bow to thee, my country." >> "i vow to thee, my country," a poem by sir cecil spring-rice, music by gustav holst.

♪ i vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above entire and whole and perfect, e ove the love that asks no question the love that stands the test that lays upon the atar the dearest and the best the love that never falters the love that pays the price the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice i heard my country calling, away across the sea across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head and round her feet are lying the dying and the dead. i hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns i haste to thee my mother, a son

among thy sons and there's another country i've heard of long ago most dear to them that love her most great to them that know we may not count her armies, we may not see her king her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace ♪ >> go forth upon thy journey from this world all christian

souls. fill in the name of god, the father almighty, who created theein the name of jesus christ, whose son who's covered for thee. in the name of the holy spirit who strengthens thee. aided by angels and archangels, and all the armies of the heavenly host. may i portion this date the in peace and thy dwelling place in the heavenly jerusalem. >> support us, o lord, all the day long, of this public life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work done. then, lord, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest,

and peace everlast, through jesus christ, our lord. amen. now unto him that is able to keep us from falling into present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, the only wise god, our savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. and the blessings of god almighty, the father, the son, and the holy spirit be with you. this day and always. amen.

>> so, after the blessings, the bearer party comes back up the aisle and will process once again with the coffin, down the aisle and out of the west door. this time will be born to, this time, not by the two granddaughters of lady thatcher, but by members of the cathedral staff.

and once this coffin is borne on their shoulders, the choir will sing the resessional, with music stanford, "lowered let us now, thy servant, depart in peace."

♪ lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy salvation

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people to be a light to lighten the gentiles and to be the glory of tth people ♪ ♪ at least all-powerful master you give us leave to your servant to go in peace according to your promise for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared ♪

♪

♪ [bell ringing]

>> hooray! hooray! hooray!♪ .> the bells of saint paul's

the coffin comes out of the -- door. d ♪ [applause] [bells ringing]

>> the crowd applauding as the coffin comes down the steps after pausing briefly. her son and daughter behind her two grandchildren.

her majesty, the queen, came down the aisle. the family lines up to watch the coffin being placed back in the hearse. for its journey to the royal hospital, chelsea. the bishop ofg]

london and the archbishop of and and and -- canterbury her majesty, the queen. watching as the coffin is placed into the hearse. in effect, the funeral is now over as the hearse drives from here down to chelsea, to the royal hospital. a lesson from the bishop of london about her mother, making distinctions between the person and the politician. the queen -- two words printed on the front of the funeral service, "cherish freedom."

>> prime minister's question time returns this wednesday. you can watch live on c-span 2 and again on sunday nights. watch any time at c-span.org, where you can find videos of past prime minister's questions and other british public affairs >> next, i look at

last week's news events and the congressional agenda. then a senate hearing with chuck hagel on the 2014 budget request. ater that, "q&a" with washington post writer. to help aeum is meant visitor relive the first eight years of the 21st century. themuseum explains decision-making process, what i went through as president. we hope the museum inspires people to serve. want to serve their community or serve their country. in some way. we did not want to be a school. i don't know if there is a lesson there. i do know that they decided to go in a different direction -- from which programs

would emerge. >> watch the dedication ceremony of the george w. bush presidential library and museum in dallas. my thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. eastern, on c-span3. tune in earlier at 6:20 a.m. eastern on c-span for a conversation with the form first couple. now a review of the week's events and i look ahead at the congressional agenda. this is 45 minutes.